Decelerator of cigarettes collected by a fluted drum

ABSTRACT

In combination with a rotatable fluted catcher drum, a rotatable pneumatic decelerator means providing braking for reducing the axial speed of rod-like members entering endwise into the open flutes of the drum to prevent damaging the rod-like members, and means for coordinating the rotation of the drum and decelerator means.

United States Patent [191 Cristiani I 1, July 23, 1974 DECELERATOR 0F CIGARETTES 3,667,587 6/1972 Preston 198/25 COLLECTED BY A FLUTED DRUM 3,685,633 8/1972 Rudszinat 198/20 C [75] Inventor: Athos Crlstiani, Bologna, Italy [73] Assignee: AMF Incorporated, White Plains,

[221 Filed? "fihFf'fi i ii [21] Appl. No: 341,393

[52] US. Cl. 198/20 C, 198/25 [51] Int. Cl. B65g 47/14 [58] Field of Search 198/20 C, 25

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,039,589 6/1962 Molins et al. 198/31 AA 3,365,046 1/1968 Morris 'et a1. 198/25 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner-Richard K. Thomson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-George W. Price; Charles J. Worth ABSTRACT In combination with a rotatable fluted catcher drum, a rotatable pneumatic decelerator means providing braking for reducing the axial speed of rod-like members entering endwise into the open flutes of the drum to prevent damaging the rod-like members, and means for coordinating the rotation of the drum and decelerator means.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures This invention relates generally to cigarette makers in which the individual cigarettes cut successively from a continuousrod are ejected in axial alignment one after the other, and more particularly to means for handling and introducing the cigarettes into the next machines.

As known, cigarettes can be collected by individually introducing them into the flutes or grooves of a fluted drum at speeds appreciably higher than the rod advancing speed by accelerating the cigarettes immediately after they are cut from the rod.

Cigarettes so accelerated move axially into the flutes of the fluted or catcher drum which is rotated on its own axis in synchronized and timed relationship with the frequency of cigarette ejection from the maker.

Up to the present time, cigarettes moving longitudinally along the drum flutes normally were braked, even to a stop, by pneumatic suction through holes provided in the bottom of the flutes. However, this braking is very sudden and cut tobacco due to'inertia tends to fall out of the ends of the cigarettes so braked.

This invention is directed to a device which progressively decelerates ejected cigarettes along the flutes of a catcher drum, said device comprising essentially a hollow rotary suction body of generally conical configuration communicating with a suitable suction source and having at least one set of suction holes which are spaced in an orderly manner to form on said body at least one row which has such an alignment that the successive holes align with decreasing speeds, a cigarette advancing in a flute of the catcher drum while the drum rotates in a predetermined arc around its own axis resulting in predetermined relative motion between the suction body and the catcher drum.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for illustration purposes only and is not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a decelerator device in accordance to the present invention and associated with a fluted drum collecting cigarettes delivered or ejected by a cigarette maker.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view, partially broken away, of the *novel device of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view partly in section illustrating the decelerator of FIGS. 1 to 3.

Referring now to the drawings, a fluted or catcher drum 1 is provided with a number of flutes or grooves 2 longitudinally formed and uniformly spaced around its periphery and is rotatably supported in such a manner that the flutes 2 successively move into and out of alignment with an end of a rectilinear guide'3 along which advance in regularly cadenced succession cigarettes S ejected by a cigarette maker and accelerated by suitable accelerating means 4. Flutes 2 are provided at the end adjacent guide 3, an intake section 102 along which the ribs of each flute 2 decreases in height until they practically cancel out the flutes in the area of the drum head facing the guide providing the cigarettes S.

The drum 1 is caused to rotate or is rotatably driven in synchronized and timed relationship with the delivery rate of cigarettes S, so that each successive flute 2 is aligned to receive the next succeeding cigarette from guide 3. Each cigarette S enters an aligned flute 2 at the advancing speed imposed by accelerating means 4, and must be braked to a stop during its travel in said flute which is substantially longer than the cigarette length.

For this purpose in accordance with the present invention, drum 1 is operatively associated with a decelerator 5 having a generally conical rotary hollow body with axial symmetry which is caused to rotate about its axis of symmetry 205 in synchronized and timed relationship with the rotation of catcher drum 1. The body 105 presents a shape which resembles a top with an arcuately concave hollow peripheral surface which is generated by the rotation around the axis of symmetry 205 of a circle are which is concentric with drum 1 and has a radius a little greater than that-of the drum. The axis 205 is orthogonal to the geometrical axis of rotation and of symmetry of the drum 1.

It is evident that, if the drum generatrix aligned with the direction of arrival of cigarettes S is disposed in the horizontal, axis 205 will have to be somewhat inclined in relation to the vertical. The radius of said circle are or arcuate concavity is preferably and substantially equal to Rt d where Rt is the radius of drum 1 at the bottom of flutes 2 and d is the cigarette diameter. The length of the arc of circumference which generates the arcuately concave generally conical surface of the body 105 is such that the arc embraces or overlies in spaced parallelism with the outer surface of drum a predetermined number of consecutive flutes 2 of catcher drum 1; for example three flutes in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. These flutes are located immediately downstream of the line of coordination of the flutes with the direction of arrival of cigarettes S in relation to the direction of rotation of catcher drum 1.

The decelerator member 5 is provided with a plurality of openings or circular orifices 6 which are distributed along the generally conical surface of revolution of the body 105 aligned in regular spaced rows which have a spiral development, tending to converge towards the free end 305 of the body 105. Openings 6 of each row can be either uniformly spaced or have a varying spacing depending upon the desired characteristics of deceleration. These openings communicate with a cavity within the hollow body 105 which is suitably connected to a source of suction through fixed tubular shaft 7. The body 105 of the retarder member 5 is providedwith a flanged hub 9 rotatably mounted on the shaft 7 by bearings 8. The hub 9 is also provided with drive means 10 and 11. In the illustrated embodi ment, these means could comprise a toothed pulley 10 and a timing drive belt 11, operatively associated with said pulley. Within body 105, fixed tubular shaft 7 can present a shaped or concave type extension or control valve face 12 which limits the suction area involving openings 6. The drum 1 is provided with a bevel gear 15 keyed to its hub 302 and in mesh with a driven bevel gear 16 which is keyed to'a shaft 17 provided with a pulley 18 for driving the belt 11.

3 The number of spiral helices of suction orifices or openings 6 corresponds to the number of flutes 2 included in the generator arc of the body 105. The illustrated embodiment will, therefore, comprise three spiral helices. The Concave 12 provides suction through openings 6 in the area of the coordinating are between the body 105 and catcher drum 1, or the openingsf6 which are instantaneously disposed in spaced face to face relationship with the flutes 2 which the body 105 in part overlies. As shown in the drawings, particularly in FIG. 3, the openings 6 of each spiral helix alignment in said generator arc, remain constantly coordinated, one after the other, with a corresponding flute 2,along which a cigarette to be decelerated in advancing. For this purpose, the length of each row of openings 6 is commensurate with the length of a cigarette S, and the rotation of body 105 is correlated in such a way that the first opening 6 of a spiral helix row thereof is coordinated with flute 2 which has just received a cigarette S still advancing along the said flute. In other words, the leading opening 6 of the row nearest to coupling flange 405 of body 105, has a peripheral speed concordant but sightly lower than the speed of cigarette S at the moment the cigarette enters a flute2, while the peripheral speed of the last opening of each row, the one closest to vertex 305 of the body 105, will be the minimum one compatible with the manufacturing requirements.

Furthermore, the ratio between the angular speed of rotation of drum 1 and that of the decelerator member must be equal to the ratio between the number of spiral rows of openings 6 are aligned and the total number of flutes 2 of catcher drum 1.

At the bottom of flutes 2 of catcher drum 1, openings 202 are provided along the annular drum band in which the cigarettes must stop. These openings communicate with a suction chamber formed in a fixed body within catcher drum 1, where control surfaces intercept air suction at least in the area of the drum are which is coordinated with the decelerator 5 along generator arc of the surface of the body 105. In particular, control means 13 as shown in FIG. 3 causes suction to be applied to openings 202 of two' adjacent flutes, in the area of drum 1 immediately after the one which is coordinated with decelerator 5.

From the above, the operation of decelerator 5, according to the invention, should be understood. As soon as a cigarette S enters a flute 2 of catcher drum 1, it starts being decelerated because its front part, in relation to the direction of motion of the same cigarette, is pneumatically engaged by a leading opening 6 of a helical row nearest to flange 405 as a result of the suction thereat. Subsequently, as the cigarette S during its forward movement within flutes 2 meets the successive openings 6 of the same spiral helix row, its advancing speed is progressively reduced because the said spiral helix alignment of openings 6 involves a progressive reduction of the peripheral linear speed of the body 105 at the successive openings 6 of that row from the leading opening 6 of the row nearest to coupling flange 405 to the last opening 6 of the same row which is nearest to vertex 305 of the body 105. Therefore, when cigarette S is disengaged from the last or trailing opening 6 of a row, its advancing speed will be considerably reduced.

Adjusting means are provided to time the leading openings 6 of said spiral helix rows with flutes 2. In the illustrated embodiment, these means consist of slotted 4 holes made in cou'pling flange 405 of body of revolution in which holes are engaged fastening screws 14 which lock into position said body against flanged hub 9.

Means may also be provided (not illustrated) to adjust the angular position of the complete device 5 around the axis of rotation of catcher drum 1, so as to be able to advance or delay the beginning of the cigarette braking or deceleration.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it isto be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes may also be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for handling successive axially moving rodlike articles, comprising, in combination:

guide means for providing a linear path for the axially moving articles,

rotatable means for receiving the successive axially moving articles from said guide means and for moving such articles laterally along an arcuate path,

said rotatable means including means for stopping the axial movement of the articles received by said rotatable means, and

pneumatic decelerator means being disposed adjacent said rotatable means and acting to reduce the axial speed of the rodlike members as theyare received by said rotatable means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and said rotatable means comprising:

a rotatable drum having a spaced series of axially disposed flutes being moved serially into and out of alignment with said guide means by rotation of said drum,

each of said flutes receiving a rod-like article when aligned with said guide means, and having an orifice for suction to retain a rodlike article therein while being moved laterally by said rotatable means, and

fixed control means within said drum for selective communication of said orifices with a vacuum source to provide suction for retaining rodlike articles.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, and said pneumatic decelerator means comprising:

a rotatable member having a substantially hollow conical body defining a suction chamber therein connected to a source of vacuum,

said body having a rotatable concave wall concentric with the periphery of said drum overlying a flute aligned with said guide means and at least one other adjacent flute, and

said orifices being provided in said body of said rotatable member.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

drive means interconnecting said rotatable drum and said rotatable member coordinating the rotation thereof.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said orifices in said body of said rotatable member are disposed in spaced series along at least one helical path.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein: I

said orifices in said body of said rotatable member are disposed in spaced series along at least one helical path.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said orifices in said body of said rotatable member are disposed in spaced series along a plurality of helical paths equal in number'to the number of flutes which the wall of said body overlies. 

1. ApparatuS for handling successive axially moving rodlike articles, comprising, in combination: guide means for providing a linear path for the axially moving articles, rotatable means for receiving the successive axially moving articles from said guide means and for moving such articles laterally along an arcuate path, said rotatable means including means for stopping the axial movement of the articles received by said rotatable means, and pneumatic decelerator means being disposed adjacent said rotatable means and acting to reduce the axial speed of the rodlike members as they are received by said rotatable means.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and said rotatable means comprising: a rotatable drum having a spaced series of axially disposed flutes being moved serially into and out of alignment with said guide means by rotation of said drum, each of said flutes receiving a rod-like article when aligned with said guide means, and having an orifice for suction to retain a rodlike article therein while being moved laterally by said rotatable means, and fixed control means within said drum for selective communication of said orifices with a vacuum source to provide suction for retaining rodlike articles.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, and said pneumatic decelerator means comprising: a rotatable member having a substantially hollow conical body defining a suction chamber therein connected to a source of vacuum, said body having a rotatable concave wall concentric with the periphery of said drum overlying a flute aligned with said guide means and at least one other adjacent flute, and said orifices being provided in said body of said rotatable member.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, further comprising: drive means interconnecting said rotatable drum and said rotatable member coordinating the rotation thereof.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said orifices in said body of said rotatable member are disposed in spaced series along at least one helical path.
 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said orifices in said body of said rotatable member are disposed in spaced series along a plurality of helical paths equal in number to the number of flutes which the wall of said body overlies.
 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said body of said rotatable member being substantially conical with the larger end thereof being disposed adjacent the portion of said rotatable drum aligned with said guide means.
 8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein: said orifices in said body of said rotatable member are disposed in spaced series along at least one helical path.
 9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein: said orifices in said body of said rotatable member are disposed in spaced series along a plurality of helical paths equal in number to the number of flutes which the wall of said body overlies. 